Salmon farmer invests in on-shore holding for pre-slaughter fish
Investment in controlled conditions is expected to enhance quality of flesh
Norwegian salmon farmer Nova Sea is seeking to enhance the quality of its pre-rigor fish by ordering a land-based holding pen system from fish handling specialist MMC First Process.
The function of a land-based holding pen is to prepare and de-stress the fish prior to slaughter. Keeping the fish in optimal conditions for water quality, temperature and oxygen maximises the quality of the flesh and leads in turn to increased prices. It also enhances biosecurity.
Nova Sea, which is part-owned by Mowi and produced around 40,000 gutted weight tonnes of salmon last year, has signed a contract with MMC which includes six holding tanks, each with a capacity of over 2,600m³ of water. These tanks are designed to handle a total biomass of 2,050 tonnes of salmon.
Outstanding quality
MMC First Process has previously delivered similar systems to Bremnes Seashore and Australis and said both companies have achieved outstanding quality in their pre-rigor fish.
“Our systems make stress-free unloading of the tanks possible and that is the key to achieving the high quality that our customers demand,” said Frank Edvard Vike, chief sales officer (handling) for MMC First Process.
“We have been working with Nova Sea for some time on a tailormade system, which is based on their requirements and environmental considerations. This type of collaboration also contributes to our own further development as a supplier of such systems.”
Nova Sea’s project manager, Espen Gleinsvåg, said: “From our point of view this is a big investment in new technology and with MMC First Process’s experience of similar solutions we are in safe hands.”
